Structure for a top-loading end-opening container



April 29, 1959 3' o. J. KISTNER 3,441,194

STRUCTURE FOR A TOP-LOADING END-OPENING CONTAINER iled May 29, 19s?Sheet of 2 .U UMEESLUL g i 2. g l I i i 2 .z

IO n I n g 1 u FIG. 1

April 29, 1969 o. J. KISTNER STRUCTURE FOR A TOP-LOADING END-OPENINGCONTAINER Filed May 29, 1967 FIG. l0

United States Patent 3,441,194 STRUCTURE FOR A TOP-LOADING END-OPENINGCONTAINER Oscar J. Kistner, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The MeadCorporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 29, 1967,Ser. No. 642,036 Int. Cl. B65d /02, 17/00, 5/54, 5/70 US. Cl. 22937 5Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A structure for use in assembly of atop-loading endopening container. It is constructed from a singlepieceblank which is folded to produce abutment of a pair of partial endpanels and releasably secured in the area of end panel abutment. In usethe structure is shipped flat to a distributor, erected, top-loaded,closed, shipped""erect to a consumer, end-opened, and emptied. Onespecies provides an end reclosing feature.

Background of the invention My invention relates to shipping containerssuitable for top-loading and end-opening. It relates more specificallyto an intermediate structure intended for production by a cartonmanufacturer and shipment in a folded flat condition to a distributor ofpackaged goods. Additionally, my invention relates to improved packagingmethods and to reclosure features for end-opening containers.

Modern high speed packaging operations have created an increasing demandfor intermediate structures adapted to be set up into inexpensive yetversatile containers. Among the versatility characteristics which are ingreat demand are plural side access and easy opening. Furthermore, inthe case of shipping containers the design must be of a simplicity whichis compatible with rugged construction.

Prior art structures are generally either simple and rugged or elseversatile with complex features appropriate primarily for light weightconstruction. Heretofore there has not been an inexpensive practicalstructure adapted for erection into a container meeting the diverserequirements associated with shipping, easy opening, and full wallaccess at two sides.

Summary of the invention I have found that the foregoing requirementscan be met by constructing a blank of five central panels withassociated top and bottom flaps and folding this blank so as to produceabutment of two partial end panels. A joint is made in the area ofpartial end panel abutment but limited to this area so as to permitindependent movement of the depending tucking flaps at the tops andbottoms of the two partial end panels. When this structure is set upinto a container, the joined partial end panels cooperate to form oneend wall. The container is loaded at the top and then the loadingclosure is sealed. Afterwards end wall access is available by breakingthe end Wall joint and swinging open the partial end panels.

My invention is useful in any container application where plural wallaccess is desired. However, it is particularly useful to the distributorwho packages articles having differing preferences as to directions ofloading and unloading. For instance sheet material such as paper must beloaded flat to avoid damage. This dictates top loading with the sheetsparallel to the plane of the container bottom. However, for unloading itis desirable to pull the sheets out edgewise. My invention provides theaccess required for these operations.

Another feature of my invention is a recloseable end inspectioncapability which is exercised by opening one 3,441,194 Patented Apr. 29,1969 partial end panel only. Then upon reclosure the tucking flapsattached to the unopened partial end panel restrain the package contentsand provide a reclosing guide for the opposing tucking flap pair. Thisfeature, however, is available only in those species wherein thereclosing tucking flaps have leading edges longer than the open space atthe end of the package.

Description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a blank for use in assembly ofthe inventive structure.

FIGURE 2 is the container structure in the preferred embodiment.

FIGURE 3 is a container set up from the structure of FIGURE 2 and openfor top loading.

FIGURE 4 is the container of FIGURE 3 after loading and sealing.

FIGURE 5 is the container of FIGURE 4 after end unloading.

FIGURE 6 is the container of FIGURE 4 end-opened for inspection of thecontents.

FIGURE 7 is the container of FIGURE 6 after reclosing has beencommenced.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged section view of a portion of FIGURE 7 andillustrating the cooperation of the tucking flaps during reclosure.

FIGURE 9 is a modified blank with the tucking flaps cut to increase thelengths of their leading edges.

FIGURE 10 is an alternate container structure without overlappingpartial end panels.

FIGURE 11 is an alternate container structure with a grasping tab foreasy opening of the loaded container.

Description of preferred embodiments The blank which is used in assemblyof my container structure is illustrated in FIG. 1 as generallyindicated by the numeral 13. The blank is divided by score lines 20through 25 into a full end panel 1, a first side panel 2, a second sidepanel 3, end cover flap 4, side cover flaps 5, end bottom flap 6, sidebottom flaps 7, a first partial end panel 8, a second partial end panel9, first tucking flaps 10, and second tucking flaps 11.

The preferred embodiment of my novel container structure is shown inFIG. 2 and designated generally by the numeral 14. The structure isformed by folding blank 13 along score lines 23 and 25 and joiningpartial end panels 8 and 9 by a piece of tape 12. As illustrated,partial end panel 9 overlaps partial end panel 8. In its broad sense,however, my invention does not require that the partial end panelsoverlap. An abutment as shown for structure 141) of FIG. 10 willsuffice. The overlap is preferred, though, because it seals out dirt andfacilitates reclosure as will be explained subsequently.

It is important to note that structure 14 is fastened only in the regionof opposing partial side panels. Tucking flaps 10 and 11 are free andindependently foldable along score lines 20 and 21. The fastening meansneed not necessarily be a piece of tape but may be a weak bonding glue,staples, or other of many well known fasteners; the only requirementbeing that the fastening action be restricted to the region betweenscore lines 20 and 21. For easy opening of nontaped species a graspingtab such as tab 18 of structure (FIG. 11) may be employed.

Structure 14 is assembled by a carton manufacturer and shipped fiat to adistributor of packaged goods. The distributor erects structure 14 toform a container 15 as shown in FIG. 3 in the top-open state.

Container 15 is top loaded and sealed by a piece of tape 16 (FIG. 4) orother suitable means. Tucking flaps 10 and 11 must remain free or atleast releasile, but

cover flaps 5 may be glued permanently to cover flap 4. The same is trueof the bottom flaps.

The loaded container may then be shipped to a consurner whereupon it isend opened and emptied as shown in FIG. 5. In the case of the preferredembodiment, opening is accomplished by merely pulling off tape 12 andswinging out partial end panels 8 and 9. At this point the importance ofreleasable tucking flaps becomes quite clear. Fastening them eithertogether or against other flaps would prohibit end opening asillustrated. Furthermore, restricting the end fastening means to theregion of partial end panel abutment results in ready external accessfor breaking the joint.

If it becomes necessary to open the container for inspection of thecontent, then a single end panel section may be opened as illustrated inFIG. 6. Reclosure may then be accomplished as shown in FIG. 7. Suchreclosure takes advantage of an optional feature of my invention whichis best observed by referring again to FIGURE 6. The content as shown isa stack of sheet material with the sheet edges exposed at the opening.By making leading edges 19 of tucking flaps 11 sufliciently long tobridge the reclosing gap, tucking flap entry can be greatly facilitated.The mechanics of the actual reclosure are best illustrated in FIG. 8which is an expanded section view taken from FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 8 the contents 17 are laterally restrained by the fullyclosed tucking flap 10. This provides a reclosing channel between flapand cover flaps 5. The leading edge 19 of tucking flap 11 is insertedinto this channel, and entry is then completed easily and without damageto the contents.

In containers having proportions generally as illustrated leading edge19 is automatically long enough to bridge the reclosing gap. If desired,flaps 11 may be lengthened, or else trimmed as illustrated in themodified blank of FIG. 9. The cut as shown results in tucking flaps 11ahaving leading edges 19a longer than is the case for untrimmed flaps.

The foregoing description of my invention has employed terms such astop, bottom, cover, side, and end. It is obvious to one skilled in theart these are descriptive appellations only and that structuralproportions as Well as container orientation may be changed withoutdeparting from my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An intermediate folded blank structure for a toploading, end-openingcontainer comprising:

(a) a full end panel,

(b) a first side panel overlying the full end panel and foldably joinedthereto along oneside thereof,

(0) a second side panel coplanar with the full end panel and joinedthereto along a score line opposite the fold line joining the full endpanel to the first side panel,

(d) a cover flap joined to the full end panel along a score line at thetop thereof,

(e) a pair of cover flaps joined to the side panels along score lines atthe tops thereof,

(f) a bottom flap joined to the full end panel along a score line at thebottom thereof,

(g) a pair of bottom flaps joined to the side panels along score linesat the bottom thereof,

(h) a first partial end panel coplanar with the first side panel andjoined thereto along a score line opposite the fold line joining thefirst side panel to the full end panel,

(i) a second partial end panel foldably joined to the second side paneland extending toward the first partial end panel at least to abuttingrelationship,

(j) a pair of first tucking flaps joined to the first partial end panelalong score lines at opposite sides thereof,

(k) a pair of second tucking flaps joined to the second partial endpanel along score lines at opposite sides thereof, and

(l) fastening means releasably securing opposing sides of the twopartial end panels to create a temporary joint therebetween;

said pair of second tucking flaps being non-joined to said pair of firsttucking flaps whereby the folded blank may be shipped flat, set-up,top-loaded, and end-opened at said joint.

2. A structure according to claim 1, each flap in said pair of secondtucking flaps having a leading edge of length greater than thedifference between the width of said full end panel and the width of thecorresponding flap of said pair of first tucking flaps.

3. A structure according to claim 2, the fastening means comprising astrip of adhesive material adhering exteriorly of the opposing edges ofthe two partial end panels.

4. A structure according to claim 2, one partial end panel overlappingthe other partial end panel to provide for end sealing.

5. A structure according to claim 4, the fastening means comprising alow strength adhesive between the overlapping portions of the partialend panels, and the external partial end panel being provided with agrasping tab to facilitate end-opening at said joint.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,037,839 4/ 1936 Wagenseller22933 2,077,694 4/1937 Hinton 22933 2,122,480 7/1938 Lowey 229332,708,545 5/1955 Seith 22937 X 2,942,770 6/1960 Fichorn 22933 3,143,2748/1964 Maize 22937 X 3,342,329 9/1967 Knight 22937 X 3,344,976 10/1967Mason 22937 X 3,356,278 12/1967 Layne 22937 X DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, PrimaryExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R.

